2022 CATEGORIES

Entries for the Student Accommodation Awards closed on 13 July 2022.

Agency Team of the Year

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Outstanding agency teams possess an in-depth expertise and ability in all areas of student accommodation to ensure that clients receive the best possible advice, support, and guidance. The award is open student accommodation agency teams that offer professional serves to developers, investors, operators and/or universities. Depending on your structure, you may connect universities, owners, and operators, landowners, PBSA developers, and investors to help them maximise opportunities in the student accommodation space. Crucially, you will make a real difference to your clients’ business and have a strong track record to prove it.

Climate Crisis Initiative - Student Property

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Over the past few years, climate change has rocketed to the top of the agenda, fuelled by the UK government’s target to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2050 – one of the most ambitious carbon targets in the world.

We want to celebrate the ground-breaking work the student property sector is doing to tackle the climate crisis and improve the sector’s environmental credentials.

Collaboration Award

This award recognises the growing importance of collaboration between the private sector - developers, operators and/or investors – and universities. We are seeking outstanding partnership and collaboration projects between the two sides, from DBFOs and investment deals, development of new schemes and campus refurbishment projects, to any innovative collaboration that has resulted in a better student housing offer.

Developer of the Year - Student Property

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Are you the standout student accommodation developer of the past year? Have you developed landmark schemes, pulled off ground-breaking deals, embarked on innovative joint ventures or pioneered new ideas that have changed the face of property development in the UK? Have you moved the dial in terms of the ESG or social impact agendas? Have you raised the bar architecturally or developed a scheme that has helped regenerate an area? Then we want to hear from you.

Hall of Fame

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Entries are not accepted to this category. A shortlist will be chosen by all judges who take part in the category judging, and the winner determined by an anonymous ballot. The winner will then be announced during the Awards ceremony.

Health and Wellbeing Initiative - Student Property

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ovid has shone the spotlight on mental health and health and wellbeing. The health and wellbeing award aims to celebrate the organisation or individual that has done the most in the past year to support the health and wellbeing of staff, occupiers, or the local community.

Innovation Award

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The award is aimed at organisations or individuals that are using game-changing innovation to create an outstanding student experience. They may be technology organisations with cutting-edge solutions, architects with ground-breaking design concepts, smart energy companies, or start-ups offering truly innovative solutions to the sector’s challenges.

International Operator of the Year

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The Covid-19 pandemic has had a massive impact on international students and some international operators in the sector have responded better – and more quickly – to the challenge than others.

Are you an overseas operator or a UK-based operator with international reach? Have you gone above and beyond the call of duty in the way you have risen to the challenges posed by Covid? Have you succeeded in extending your geographical reach despite the pandemic? Is the accommodation you offer the first choice for students in that location? Then we want to hear from you.

Investor of the Year

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A forward-thinking investor will seek student housing that is closely aligned with student needs, is strategically located and offers tangible investment returns. The award will recognise any type of investor – an investment or institutional fund, private equity firm, and other providers of finance – that has excelled in making the right financial decisions.

Legal/Professional Team of the Year – Student Property

This category is aimed at law firms and specialist property consultants (or departments of larger agency firms) that provide one or more of the following: legal advice, valuation, rating, rent review and property/land and estate management. It is also open to building surveyors, firms that provide planning/development or environmental advice and practices that are strong in arbitration, claims, expert witness or legal services. It is not open to facilities management organisations or other property advisers.

Operator of the Year (UK only)

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The Covid-19 pandemic hit student accommodation hard. Some UK operators responded better and more quickly than others to the huge challenges presented by the Covid lockdowns, the switch to remote learning and the campus occupation protests over rent. Were you one of them?

The category is open to any operator of student accommodation that is accredited by ANUK.

Private Halls of Residence Award

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The best private halls of residence are aligned with the demands of Gen-Z, focusing on digital and networked aspects, and learning and social cohesion, with the student experience and their wellbeing prioritised throughout. They offer a variety and choice in accommodation options and are creative and innovative in their student offering. They are highly rated by students and offer a slice of home away from home.

Over the past two years, some private halls of residence responded better and more quickly than others to the difficulties presented by the Covid lockdowns, the switch to remote learning and the campus occupation protests over rent. It has been a hugely challenging period for UK halls of residence and this award recognises those who really stood out during these difficult times.

Rising Star Award

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Rising Star – who is the brightest talent in the PBSA sector? Who is making a difference and forging their way to the top of successful careers or businesses in this area? Who will be the next titans of the industry? This category is open to individuals that can demonstrate they are the next generation of future leaders and are delivering innovation in the student accommodation industry.

If you have joined the sector, progressed up the career ladder or launched a new business or initiative, we want to hear from you. Whether you are in development, operations, investment, agency or part of a university team, could you be our Rising Star for 2022?

Self-nominations and entries submitted on another’s behalf are both accepted for this award.

Social Impact Initiative - Student Property

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Social impact has been one of the breakthrough issues of the past few years and has come to the fore in the Covid-19 pandemic. We want to celebrate the best social impact projects and initiatives of the past year.

We are looking for an organisation or individual that has implemented, completed or committed to a ground-breaking social impact scheme, project or initiative that has had a real and measurable positive social impact on the community.

University Halls of Residence Award

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The UK has a long tradition of university halls of residence, but most were built for another, pre-internet era, utilitarian in design and built, with little or no communal spaces. Many universities have undergone massive transformations, and today’s best halls of residence align with the demands of Gen-Z, focusing on digital and networked aspects, and learning and social cohesion, with the student experience and their wellbeing prioritised throughout. They offer choice in accommodation options and are creative and innovative in their student offering. They are highly rated by students and offer a slice of home away from home.

Over the past two years, some university halls of residence responded better and more quickly than others to the difficulties presented by the Covid lockdowns, the switch to remote learning and the campus occupation protests over rent. It has been a hugely challenging period for UK halls of residence and this award recognises those who really stood out during these difficult times.

University Team of the Year

From housing management, academic support, financial advice to pastoral care, student accommodation teams have a crucial role to play in the wellbeing of students and their university experience.

Please note that this category is open to university accommodation teams only, who are able to demonstrate exceptional levels of care and support to students on all their housing matters.

Unsung Hero Award

The award will go to an outstanding individual on the frontline of delivery, whose voice may not be often heard, but whose presence makes their halls a special place. From chefs, gardeners, cleaners, concierges, receptionists and other frontline staff, this accolade is for an exceptional colleague who goes an extra mile to make your halls a better place.

Individuals nominated for this special accolade will need to work for halls of residence, either in university-run or private halls.

Student Accommodation and Property Week events are part of Emap, Metropolis International Group Ltd